If the old wardrobe needs a bit of a pick me up, get yourself over to SWOP quick fast. This delightful second-hand clothing store in Newtown is all about unique, beautiful and sustainable fashion. Inspired by the culture of vintage exchange in the United States, SWOP promotes anti-waste, affordability and sustainability — so it's the perfect place to go for conscious fashion. With both contemporary and vintage threads hanging in colour-coded order, this store is a goldmine for finding that one-off piece your wardrobe needs.
When Netflix decided to give The Addams Family a new take, it was a lightbulb moment. More than two decades after the last live-action version of the beloved creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky characters hit screens, the Jenna Ortega (Scream VI)-led revamp Wednesday proved a smash. No one likely stuck a lightbulb in their mouth when they came up with the idea to revive the franchise, and we're hoping that no one did to celebrate the show's success, either; however, the streaming platform's next series linked to the horror-loving crew could feature exactly that. After dropping its first season in late 2022, then notching up more viewers, memes and mimicked dance moves than the Addams crew have pieces of black clothing, Wednesday was officially renewed for a second season at the beginning of 2023. That's still on the way, with no ETA as yet after Hollywood's strike-filled year, but Netflix is already thinking about giving the show an Uncle Fester-focused spinoff. Bloomberg reports that while production on Wednesday season two hasn't begun, the streaming service is eager to keep all things Addams Family on-screen via multiple shows. The Uncle Fester series has been put forward as the first. Presumably, that'd mean Fred Armisen (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) reprising his role — unless it's an Uncle Fester origin story. There's nothing locked in, so no casting details, no storyline and no timeline for the show to hit your streaming queue so far, but we all know how much pop culture's powers that be — aka studios and streamers — love franchises. The Addams Family realm has always been beloved by audiences — the Christina Ricci-led 90s films have been favourites for decades for good reason, plus the 1960s TV show and 1930s The New Yorker comics before that — so Netflix wanting more is far from unexpected. Indeed, if you were channelling your inner Wednesday, as we all should, you wouldn't raise an eyebrow in astonishment. Wednesday's first season broke the Netflix record for most hours viewed in a single week, then did so again — earning 341.23-million hours viewed in its first week, then 411.29-million hours viewed in its second. There's no trailer for the Uncle Fester spinoff yet, of course, but you can check out Wednesday season one's sneak peek below: Wednesday streams via Netflix, with season one available now and season two arriving at a yet-to-be-announced date. We'll update you with further details about season two and the Uncle Fester spinoff when they're revealed. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Via Bloomberg. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec World Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's Malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful debut in 2016, Gauchito Gil is bringing Malbec Day to Sydney for a third time with a five-hour wine bonanza at Carriageworks on Sunday, April 15. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set-up. Your $60 ticket will include a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 90 Australian, Argentinian and French malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine there will be top-notch empanadas from Porteño, charcuterie from La Bastide and alfajores (soft shortbread-like cookies filled with dulce de leche) from Alfamores. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about Malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine?
Whether you spend January 26 pumping the Hottest 100 and wading in an ankle-deep paddling pool in your mate's backyard, knocking back tinnies and listening to live music, lazing on the beach or taking the opportunity to wear your favourite bucket hat un-ironically, Australia Day means different things to different people — and that's just fine. It's a day for doing stuff that's uniquely Australian, and no matter what your preference (and yo' price range) we have something for everyone this Aussie Day. 'Strayaaa! Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel There are some pretty epic events on offer over the upcoming Australia Day long weekend. But no schedule is quite as epic as that of Watsons Bay Hotel. With a line-up set to stretch over three days, gear up for beach volleyball, crab racing, beach cricket, stand-up paddle board races, live DJ sets and an Aussie BBQ featuring the special 'Watsons Bay Sausage'. And okay, we're not really sure what an 'epic water trampoline' is, but we know it is running all weekend and sounds really, really rad. Those keen on the stand up paddle races will need to register online here. January 25, 26 & 27 from 7am; Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, 1 Military Road, Watsons Bay. The Rocks There's nothing Aussies like more than a freebie. And Australia Day at The Rocks will be no exception. A fusion of music, arts and activities, the event will stretch across George Street, The Rocks Square and First Fleet Park — uniting Sydneysiders in the very place our nation began. With an unapologetically good musical bill including the uber-popular indie unit Cloud Control, visual art-freestyle rap fusionist Sketch the Rhyme and killer up-and-comers Jones Jnr, this totally free celebration will kick off from 12 noon. Check out George Street for pop-up bars, installations, karaoke stages and paddling pools. January 26; free; 12 noon-6pm. Yabun Festival January 26 is also vital in that it marks the annual Yabun Festival, a showcase of the very best in Indigenous artwork and music, Australia-wide. The biggest of its kind in the country, Yabun will this year celebrate its 12th at Camperdown's Victoria Park and completely free of charge. Emphasising the 2014 theme, 'Survive', come performances from Bart Willoughby Band, Leah Flanagan, King Brown and many more. Then boogie on into the evening with the Yabun After Party at Marrickville's The Factory Theatre. Featured are some of the biggest names in Aussie hip hop, including MC Sky'High and Native Rhyme. January 26; 10am-6pm; Victoria Park, City Road, Camperdown. Old School Bakery Pop-Up at Adriano Zumbo Thought the days you could buy finger buns — with their iconic pink icing and coconut shavings — with the silver scraped from the bottom of your bag were gone? Not quite (you might need more than just silver). Adriano Zumbo is transforming his Rozelle and Waverley patisseries into 'Fluffy's Aussie Bakery' as a creative homage to Australia Day. For ten days Zumbo's will be the classic Aussie bakery with kitsch decor, vintage chalkboard art and baked goods. Among the treats on offer from tomorrow until January 26 are finger buns, neenish tarts, cream buns and lamingtons. All that's missing is a milkshake and sausage roll. January 17-26; 114 Terry Street, Rozelle and 24 Arden Street, Waverley. Great Sydney Swim, Sydney Harbour For many people, Australia Day means donning your saggiest Speedo and getting amongst some sun and saltwater. Beginning at the doorstep of the Opera House, The Great Sydney Swim incorporates all of this Aussie goodness. And the 2.2km swim across Sydney Harbour doesn't even have to be as strenuous as it sounds; there's a variety of swims for every skill (or effort) level. Distances include 300 to 700 metres, as well as the whole 2.2km shebang. Australia Day marks the final swim in January 2014, with prizes up for grabs and every participant receiving a race pack. January 26; 6.30am-noon; Farm Cove, Sydney Harbour. Son of a Beach at The Bank Hotel If you live in the Inner West you probably claim that the only thing the I-dub is lacking in is beaches. But fear not this Australia Day, with The Bank Hotel Newtown bringing the beach west side. We’re talking sand, beach volleyball, DJs, thong-throwing comps — even lifeguards. Sausage sambos and slow-roasted lamb rolls will be available all day, along with Australia’s own Vale Ale and a tequila cart (for those a little confused of their location). And when the sun goes down, head Upstairs at the Bank for live music and cocktails. Son of a Beach will run from 11am till reaaaal late. January 26; The Bank Hotel, 324 King St, Newtown. Ben and Jerry's Openair Cinemas Sundae Session Need another excuse to spend this Australia Day by the beach? The Ben and Jerry's Openair Cinema returns in January, bringing with it a regular stream of summer tunes by day, and killer flicks by night — held beachside at Sydney's iconic Bondi. In celebration of January 26 comes the Australian comedy classic Crocodile Dundee, as well as a fully licensed bar, lawn games and free ice cream all day long. Not feeling like a Paul Hogan fix but still in the mood for an al fresco movie experience on Aus Day? The Castle will be screening at Moonlight Cinema on January 26, and Muriel's Wedding on January 27 (and for free!) at The Beresford. January 26; $17-40; Dolphin Lawn, Bondi Beach. Symphony in the Domain For an Australia Day that's a little less reminiscent of stubbies and cheap Straya paraphernalia (made everywhere but Australia), Sydney Festival's annual Symphony in the Domain offers something a li'l more refined. The free event welcomes you, your hamper, a blanket and friends to settle in under the stars. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will perform Gustav Holst's The Planets — an astrological journey through the solar system — along with readings from Bell Shakespeare's John Bell and fireworks to finish off the night. Performances kick off at 8pm, but many set up camp at The Domain throughout the day. January 26 at 8pm; free; The Domain, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Camping Australia Day is the perfect time to appreciate all that our great southland has to offer — beautiful beaches, endless bushland and summer weather not to be rivalled. So why not spend an Aus Day taking it all in and camping under the stars. The abundance of coastal beaches and inland lakes in New South Wales means you can close your eyes, point to a map and end up in a place that possesses its own unique beauty. Alternatively, check out our own list of ten killer camping getaways, all within easy driving distance of Sydney. Whenever/wherever ya bloody want! Australia Day Colour Dash, Darling Harbour The Good Samaritans of Australia (which, um, is probably what the day is 'sposed to be all about: remember that good ol' Aussie spirit thing?) will be spending the 26th raising money for the 23,000 who live with multiple sclerosis. The MS Colour Dash is a non-competitive 5km run (or skip/walk/dance) along Darling Harbour as volunteers shower you with natural rainbow dust. Participants reach the finish line covered in colour and then dabble in the range of live music, food and drinks on offer. An even better idea might be volunteering — which means throwing stuff at strangers and not getting arrested for it. January 26; Darling Harbour. By Mairead Armstrong and Rachel Eddie.
Heiner Goebbels is the celebrity of the 2013 Sydney Festival, as far as the experimental performance nerds are concerned. But the director and composer's esoteric-sounding works can be relied on to hit a nerve no matter whether you've done the background reading. Eraritjaritjaka, which means "regret for lost things' in the Indigenous Australian Arunta language, features the unflinching texts of Nobel Laureate Elias Canetti, live music by Amsterdam's Mondriaan String Quartet, an actor who takes the whole audience with him when he leaves the stage, and a lesson on how to chop an onion in perfect time with the music of Ravel. The expansive multimedia performance has toured the world since 2004 and now makes its exclusive Australian appearance at the Theatre Royal. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013.
If you're in Croydon Park, you can head to By George this weekend to get a taste of Tokyo Lamington. The cafe tucked away on Georges River Road will have some of the Newtown bakery's most popular flavours on offer for Croydon Park locals who haven't been able to get to Tokyo Lamington's own store during lockdown. The three flavours you can nab are the fan-favourite fairy bread lamington, the apple pie lamington and the OG, of course. Over the last few years, Tokyo Lamington's Min Chai and Eddie Stewart have been on a mission to make the humble Australian dessert world-famous. After selling lamingtons in Singapore and Tokyo, they brought the brand to its home country, launching a store in Newtown last year. While this meant that inner west locals were suddenly flocking to try Tokyo Lamington's inventive takes on the Aussie dessert, these next-level treats have still been hard-to-reach for many Sydneysiders, especially while we can only travel five kilometres from our house during lockdown. So, to help spread the joy, the inner west bakery has been running pop-ups in Parramatta, Penrith, Cecil Hills and now Croydon Park. The collaboration will begin 8am on Saturday and run throughout the weekend, or until stock runs out. So, head down early if you want to be 100-percent sure you'll be snacking on a chocolate and coconut covered treat this weekend.
The past two years have delivered plenty of trends that no one loves, including supermarket shortages and traipsing around town trying to get tested for COVID-19. But here's one that's made our lives easier during the pandemic: the fast-tracking of big-name movies to streaming. Seeing a film on the silver screen hasn't been a straightforward experience over this chaotic time, and more and more flicks are quickly making the jump from cinemas to digital — including reaching the latter when they're still showing at the former. The latest is Dune, which looks downright glorious projected on the largest screen you can find, and definitely benefits from the kind of surround-sound setup you'll only get to listen to in a theatre, but is now also available to watch at home if that'll brighten up your January. One of our best films of 2021, the instant sci-fi classic is available to buy and rent via video on demand from Thursday, January 13, including from digital movie services such as Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Accordingly, if you've already sat down on your couch to watch Timothée Chalamet in Don't Look Up this summer, you can now back it up with another of his recent flicks. Or, there's your next double feature sorted. [caption id="attachment_774009" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Chiabella James. Copyright: © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] A spice-war space opera about feuding houses on far-flung planets, Dune has long been a pop-culture building block. Before Frank Herbert's 1965 novel was adapted into a wrongly reviled David Lynch-directed film — a gloriously 80s epic led by Kyle MacLachlan and laced with surreal touches — it unmistakably inspired Star Wars, and also cast a shadow over Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Game of Thrones has since taken cues from it. The Riddick franchise owes it a debt, too. The list goes on and, thanks to the new version bringing its sandy deserts to life, will only keep growing. As he did with Blade Runner 2049, writer/director Denis Villeneuve has once again grasped something already enormously influential, peered at it with astute eyes and built it anew — and created an instant sci-fi classic. This time, Villeneuve isn't asking viewers to ponder whether androids dream of electric sheep, but if humanity can ever overcome one of our worst urges and all that it brings. And, in his version of Dune, he's doing so with an exceptional cast that spans Chalamet (The French Dispatch), Oscar Isaac (The Card Counter), Rebecca Ferguson (Reminiscence), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Javier Bardem (Everybody Knows), Zendaya (Spider-Man: No Way Home) and more. Dune tells of birthrights, prophesied messiahs, secret sisterhood sects that underpin the galaxy and phallic-looking giant sandworms, and of the primal lust for power that's as old as time — and, in Herbert's story, echoes well into the future's future. Its unpacking of dominance and command piles on colonial oppression, authoritarianism, greed, ecological calamity and religious fervour, like it is building a sandcastle out of power's nastiest ramifications. And, amid that weightiness — plus those spectacularly shot visuals and Hans Zimmer's throbbing score — it's also a tale of a moody teen with mind-control abilities struggling with what's expected versus what's right. Check out the trailer for Dune below: Dune is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand from Thursday, January 13 — including from Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Read our full review.
Sydney's iconic harbourside funfair, Luna Park, is usually a place of light, bright family thrills. But between October 25–31, a darker side shall be revealed. Luna Park's annual Halloscream festival returns to send a shiver down your spine with a program of spooky spectacles and white-knuckle entertainment. Fans of the Netflix megahit Squid Game can step through the screen and brave the life-or-death trails of the show for themselves by taking part in a round of the infamous Green Light Red Light game. This exclusive sneak peek of Squid Game: The Experience, which is bringing a whole host of mortal challenges to Luna Park's Big Top from mid-December, is exclusive to Halloscream guests. Neon Nightmare brings a new immersive light and sound attraction to Luna Park's popular rave cave, Sonic Neon. Instead of pumping beats, it'll be your heart thumping in your chest as this horrifying show sends your adrenaline through the roof. One of Halloscream's most popular attractions, the Forgotten Funhouse, invites visitors to navigate its twists and turns while braving encounters with those most terrifying of creatures, killer clowns. All ticket holders to Halloscream nights also get unlimited access to all rides across Luna Park but for those who really want to up the ante, VIP tickets are also available offering access to an exclusive lounge featuring spooky drinks, roaming performers and grid-worthy photo opportunities.
Randwick has just scored a new food precinct as the curtains lift on the first phase of its much-hyped lifestyle hub, Newmarket Dining. Inside, four new hospitality venues have already opened their doors, including a second outpost for Redfern's ever-popular ramen joint RaRa, with a stack more to come. Decked out with lush gardens, al fresco dining areas and plenty of public space for barbecuing and picnicking, the fairy light-lit precinct has made its home in the heart of the suburb on Barker Street. And visitors are already met with a pretty diverse spread of food options, right from the get go. RaRa's second eatery takes its ramen every bit as seriously as its sibling, boasting real-deal noodle-making machines imported from Japan. They're churning out fresh, springy noodles to star in the bowls of signature ramen and you can even watch all the magic unfold behind glass in the 'noodle room'. Larger than the original, the space nods to the izakayas of Tokyo, complete with bar seating and a healthy dose of glowing neon. Baccomatto Osteria is the Italian of the bunch, moving into Randwick from its original Surry Hills digs, with its own strong following. Here, it's dishing up its legendary handmade pasta, with fan favourites starring alongside new Roman-style specials. Think, rigatoni with lamb ragu and artichokes, and a chargrilled pork cutlet matched with cannellini beans. It's also serving up Roman-style pizza by the slice, topped with the likes of bresaola, buffalo mozzarella and mushrooms. Family-owned Cafe Mckenzie is brewing coffee alongside a Middle Eastern-inspired food offering, while a new outpost from cold-pressed juice crew Cali Press is your go-to for nutritious eats like smoothies and salad bowls. An unconventional barbershop for guys and girls called Barber Signature is the precinct's first non-food offering. The full lineup of Newmarket Dining's residents will be unveiled in March. Find Newmarket Dining at 154 Barker Street, Randwick. Check individual restaurant websites for opening hours.
Based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary follows the wild adventures of journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) as he takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s. Struggling to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who live there, Kemp forms a passionate yet dangerous attraction to Chenault (Amber Heard), the fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), a wealthy entrepreneur. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavoury scheme, the journalist faces a dilemma: to use his words for the corrupt businessman's financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down. The Rum Diary is a fast-paced filmic cocktail of comedy, adventure, romance and action. The incredible cinematography and choice of soundtrack in Bruce Robinson's film paints the exotic landscape of Puerto Rico with colours and sounds that exemplify Kemp's experience in the foreign land. With a cast of well-known Hollywood talents, lead by the charismatic Johnny Depp, this movie is sure to take you on one hell of a rum-fuelled ride. Read the full review here. To win one of ten double passes to see The Rum Diary, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=0YUx36yLLug
Some innovative internetters have thrown their support behind tougher laws on firearms in America by photoshopping classic movie moments so that our favourite gun-toting characters serve their enemies a friendly thumbs up instead of a barrage of bullets. The light-hearted approach by photoblog Thumbs & Ammo comes at a time when America is heatedly debating gun control, and its amusing advocacy of stringent gun control provides a refreshing and entertaining new angle as to why Americans do not need guns. "Real tough guys don't need guns, they just need a positive, can-do attitude," the crowdsourced blog's tagline declares. Let us hope that art can imitate life. In the meantime, take a look at some of our favourites below.
One of Sydney's best ramen spots is making sure you get your dose of hot noodle soup at home despite Sydney's current lockdown. Rising Sun Workshop has launched 'Ramen at Home' which allows ramen-lovers the opportunity to have everything they need for the Rising Sun Workshop experience in their living room. The at-home goodie boxes are available for pickup or delivery with each pack serving two. Inside you'll find broth, protein, garnishes and noodles and then all you have to do is put it all together with some boiling water in your kitchen. You can choose between its three signature ramens: The Darkness, a pork belly and black fungus creation, The Light, a chicken, pork belly and katsuobushi dashi bowl, and The Monk, a vegetarian shiitake mushroom and miso corn option. To order, head to the eatery's website, and while you're there you can also pick up beers and natural wines from the bottleshop, as well as kimchi and raw honey from the general store. [caption id="attachment_736378" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption]
The 80s got a lot of things right: music, movies, big hair and knowing how to have a good time. Cyndi Lauper said it herself... "girls just wanna have fun". So, if that anthem resonates with you, get ready for a series of 80s–inspired, fun-filled nights this month in Sydney. Step back in time and embrace the spirit of the 80s at Now & Then, the underground cocktail bar hidden in the heart of Sydney's CBD. Every Tuesday throughout April, Now & Then will be teaming up with Grey Goose for a series of 80s-theme nights to transport you back to the era of big hair, neon and those irresistible synth grooves. The event series will feature a curated menu of Grey Goose cocktails for just $16 each. Sip on updated nostalgic classics including French Martinis, Cosmopolitans, and a seasonal Caprioska. To satisfy your food cravings, the kitchen will be dishing out a selection of $12 jaffles — the perfect snack to accompany you on the dance floor (which will feature 80s anthems courtesy of DJ Joey Santos). Plus, don't forget to dress up in your best 80s attire for the chance to win some exclusive merchandise and maybe even a couple of Grey Goose bottles to take home. So grab some friends and get out the old hair-crimper and leg warmers for a retro celebration at Now & Then this month.
What features Jay and Silent Bob dancing, the Quick Stop opening and hockey being played on the roof? There's more than one answer to that question. The response right now: the trailer for Clerks III, which is a real thing that's headed to US cinemas in September. Feeling like you've just jumped back 28 years comes with the territory with this threequel — and the film well and truly knows it. Trust Jason Mewes (Loafy), playing Jay yet again, to state the obvious in the just-dropped sneak peek at Kevin Smith's third Clerks flick. "That's how we did it in the 90s, son!" he exclaims. Naturally, that's just the beginning of Clerks III's meta leanings. In fact, winking and nodding is one of the main reasons that this movie seems to exist — because the titular twosome, aka Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson, Zack and Miri Make a Porno) and Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran, On Your Own), are making their own movie. As the trailer shows, Randal has a heart attack on the job, realises he's living on borrowed time and decides that he'll finally make a film rather than just watch them. "Everything in the script is something either me or someone I know said," he explains — followed by Our Flag Means Death's Fred Armisen, Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Smith's Mallrats and Chasing Amy star Ben Affleck uttering "I'm not even supposed to be here today". No, snoochie boochies, nothing in pop culture ever really dies or ends. Yes, there's always a new movie or TV show popping up to prove how that's the case. All things Star Wars keeps on keeping on, after all — and, given that Smith both writes and directs Clerks III, as he did 1994's Clerks and 2006's Clerks II, you bet that sci-fi space opera gets a mention in his latest flick. If you're new to Clerks, aka the franchise that kickstarted Smith's career both behind and in front of the camera — playing Silent Bob, of course — the OG black-and-white movie followed Quick Stop Groceries employee Dante and his video rental store worker pal Randal going about an ordinary day. Famously, Dante wasn't even supposed to be working. The first sequel then picked up ten years later, checking in on the pair's lives. In that film, they've made the move to fast food, with Rosario Dawson (DMZ) playing their manager. Dawson features in Clerks III, too, as do other familiar franchise faces that are best spotted by watching the trailer yourself — or seeing the film, although it doesn't yet have a release date Down Under. Given how many times that Smith has busted out Jay and Silent Bob now — this makes the ninth View Askewniverse film so far, and they've appeared in other flicks like Scream 3 as well — you can probably expect that he'll be palling around with Mewes on-screen until he's at least 90. The Tusk and Yoga Hosers filmmaker also has a sequel to Mallrats in the works, so add that to the list. Check out the trailer for Clerks III below: Clerks III will release in the US from September 4, with Down Under release dates yet to be confirmed — we'll update you when local details are announced.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Flickerfest. As the director of Flickerfest for the past 16 years, Bronwyn Kidd has programmed thousands of short films — and seen many, many more. She's got such a strong eye, in fact, that three categories in the festival are Academy® Accredited, giving their filmmakers a track to the Oscars. She shared with us her top seven films to keep a particularly close eye on at Flickerfest. So no getting distracted by the Bondi stars or ducking out for a drink at the bar when you see these titles flash on the screen. "It's always hard with so many great short films to choose from, but here are some of my personal faves out of the 106 short films in competition handpicked from 2200 entries received from this years fest," says Bronwyn. "I'm a big fan of truly unique, creative short films, so these are just some of the ones that have stood out for me. "One of the reasons I'm still so passionate about short film is that I believe that the short film format creates the opportunity to experiment and surprise without the pressures to conform of the commercial features world, and these shorts certainly fit that category." SEQUENCE Spain / 20min / 2013 A quirky short about everyones worse nightmare — what if you wake up one day and realise the entire world has dreamed about you? 216 MONTHS France / 26min / 2012 Weird and wonderful. Nothing is comparable to the success of Maureen, the ventriloquist singer, except her belly: it is simply outrageous. But a shadow is hanging over her career and that of her manager husband’s. The entrancing voice that comes out of Maureen’s insides has a name: Charles. He will soon be 18, the rebellious age, and he has one sole objective in life: to be born. THE MISSING SCARF Ireland / 7min / 2013 Quirky and surprising. Albert the Squirrel makes a startling discovery: an empty space where once his favourite scarf lay. He heads off into the forest only to find everyone else is preoccupied with worries of their own. He helps who he can before moving on but never seems to get any closer to his goal. Ultimately, Albert’s problem is put in perspective by the friends he helped and the problems they faced and overcame together. BUTTER LAMP France/China / 16min / 2013 Sweet and exotic. A young photographer and his assistant suggest to Tibetan nomads to take their picture. Through these shots, the photographer will weave unique links with each of the various villagers. THE KINGDOM OF DOUG Australia / 15min / 2013 Josie and her fellow cult members have gathered in an ice skating rink to commit mass suicide. When Josie loses faith in Doug, her charismatic cult leader, she starts questioning their choice to die. TANGO UNDERPANTS Australia / 13:40 / 2013 Carolyn, a young Australian backpacker, travels to Buenos Aries, where she discovers not only the wonders of the tango but also the vital importance of the right underwear. Starring Emma Booth. JAMBO AMANI Spain / 32min / 2013 A group of Congolese FDLR militiamen have decided to renounce violence surrender their weapons and enter the reintegration programme of the the United Nations. Happy to leave behind the troubled mountains of North Kivu, they take a helicopter to the city of Goma, where a new life is about to begin. They're all part of the packed Flickerfest 2014 program. Details and screening times are on their website.
If you’ve got the blues because you’ve missed out on Byron-bound, field-frolicking party times at Splendour this year, we hear you. Thankfully, many of the headliners are kind enough to put on a sideshow or two while they’re visiting — after all, many of them have come a long way for the occasion. While you've had other things like work, life and International Mojito Day on your mind, tickets have gone a-walkin' for these coveted sideshows, only adding insult to injury. Fear not, we've trawled through the best Splendour sideshows to see who’s still got tickets available if you want to join the festival buzz. Without further ado, here's some Splendour sideshows you could be slinging your dollars towards. NOTE: This is all very ‘at the time of writing’ so if something sells out in the meantime, we’re sorry for getting any hopes up.
When Hugo's closed last year, many Sydneysiders were left wondering about the future of Sneaky Sundays. Run by Sneaky Sound System's Miss Connie and Black Angus, the Sunday staple has been providing weekend party people with the best house music since 2000 and has gained a dedicated following. It might even be where you were introduced to deadmau5 or Daft Punk. After a successful summer run in Mykonos, the long-loved event is returning with a new home at Bondi beachfront bar The Bucket List. Sneaky Sundays is on from 7pm to midnight, every Sunday throughout the summer and features an array of weekly guests. It's the best excuse to while away the balmy nights dancing to everything from deep house to electro.
You're in a pub, having a beverage with your best mate, and you both keep picking up your pesky smartphones. It's a problem we all know too well — and something we're all guilty of, admit it. At London's new pop-up pub, it's simply not an option. Firstly, at the Make Time For It craft bar in Greenwich, you and your BFF will be the only people there. Yep, the short-term venue in Greenwich only seats two people. That's what happens when you open up the tiniest, cosiest of bespoke pubs in a garden shed that's smaller than a pool table. Plus, to make sure you really do have a good natter, you have to hand in your phone when you enter. That's right — good things don't just come in the smallest of packages here, though, but in the quietest and most distraction-free. Make Time For It's limited operation from October 21 to 30 is designed to highlight the importance of time, and of unplugging from digital distractions. You'll get free beer for your troubles, with the entire place the brainchild of craft brewer Meantime. After fashioning a range of special tipples that stress the concept of disconnecting from the screens in your pocket, they've taken the idea to the next level. Sure, it's a gimmick, but it's also Britain's smallest bar, and probably the world's, as well as the kind of place you instantly want to visit. You can pre-book a slot, or simply turn up and enjoy your time in the teensy-weensy watering hole. And if you're heading elsewhere in the UK at a later date, you might just be in luck — Meantime is pondering taking the bar on the road. Via Meantime.
Acclaim, awards, and Josh and Julie Niland all go hand in hand. The Sydney duo have been winning fans locally since 2016, when they opened Saint Peter, and the praise has kept flowing and growing from there. Josh's applauded The Whole Fish Cookbook earned him the prestigious James Beard Book of the Year Award back in 2020, becoming the first Australian to ever take out the prize. Earlier in 2022, he was the only Australian chef to feature in The Best Chefs Awards for 2022 — aka the list of the top 100 best globally — too. Now, with Julie, another gong has come the Nilands' way: the Game Changer Award from France's La Liste. La Liste is known for picking the best 1000 restaurants in the world annually, and it has also just done exactly that for 2023. But it gives out awards as well, with its latest round handed out on the evening of Monday, November 28 in Paris. That's where Josh and Julie earned some love for their approach to seafood, and the businesses that've sprang from their efforts. [caption id="attachment_771911" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Rob Palmer, from Josh Niland's The Whole Fish Cookbook[/caption] "Australian chef Josh Niland, whose wife Julie runs his ever evolving Sydney business, has changed the way chefs use fish all over the world with his zero-waste 'fish butchery' approach," La Liste notes in its explanation for its 2023 Game Changer pick. "His methods seemed radical when he started talking about them, but make sense — use the whole fish, from fin-to-gill, as we do nose-to-tail with animals. Age and cure fish. Don't forget the offal. As many chefs lack the knowledge to do this, he shares his ideas in two cookbooks, The Whole Fish and Take One Fish," the statement continues. [caption id="attachment_878784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Palmer[/caption] Clearly, Sydneysiders will be familiar with the Nilands courtesy of Saint Peter, and also thanks to Fish Butchery since 2018 — with the latter now in both Paddington and Waterloo — plus sustainable fish and chip shop Charcoal Fish in Rose Bay. They have more venues in the works, with Saint Peter moving into The Grand National Hotel, the Nilands taking over the whole place, and new 60-seat restaurant and bar Petermen coming to St Leonards, all in 2023. The Nilands' La Liste prize saw them earn international recognition alongside fellow Aussie chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly, who scored one of the Hidden Gems awards for Le Doyenné in Saint-Vrain in France. Also picking up a win among the global recipients: Michel Guérard, who nabbed a special Award of Honour; Chika Tillman from New York's ChikaLicious Dessert Bar, who received the Top Pastry Chef Award; and Yotam Ottolenghi for championing the Mediterranean region, which scored him the New Destination Champion Award. Plus, Italy's Niko Romito was given the Innovation Award, France's Yannick Alléno the Community Spirit prize, and Brazil's Manoella Buffara took home the Ethical and Sustainability Award. Among La Liste 2023's 1000 restaurants, Saint Peter obviously featured, as did a nice lineup of other Australian spots. In Sydney, Oncore by Clare Smyth, Quay, Tetsuya's, Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Bennelong, Ormeggio at The Spit, and Rockpool Bar and Grill made the list, while Melbourne's inclusions span Vue de Monde, Attica, Cutler and Co, Minamishina, Lume, Grossi Florentino Upstairs and Flower Drum. In regional Victoria, Brae, Lake House and Provenance got the nod, as did Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_690417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brae[/caption] For La Liste's full list of awards, and best restaurants, head to the guide's website. Top image: Rob Palmer.
There ain't nothing quite like country music, is there, partner? First popping up in the American South more or less a century ago, it's a simple yet satisfying genre that has found fans worldwide. Some of the most recognisable artists in history have been country singers — with a podium including Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers and more. If you know or love any of the above artists, you'd best secure some tickets to the upcoming Country by Candlelight tour. Having sold out theatres across the UK, it's headed down south (or down under, in this case) to tour across Australia and Aotearoa throughout February and March. After a series of February shows in NZ, the Australian tour will arrive in Queensland for a Gold Coast show at The Star Theatre on Sunday, March 1. The following week, it's Sydney's turn at Darling Harbour Theatre on Sunday, March 8, before moving to Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday, March 12. Then, the tour will hop across the country to PCEC Perth on Sunday, March 15, before an additional Queensland show at QPAC Brisbane on Thursday, March 19. Finally, the tour will conclude in South Australia at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, on Sunday, March 22. Each show starts at 7.30pm and should wrap up (encores notwithstanding) by 10pm. Country by Candlelight will tour across cities in Australia and New Zealand from Sunday, February 15 to Sunday, March 22. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
Australia will soon get to see The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu), the supposedly final work from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro), who based the film on his own manga comic of the same name. Set in Japan pre-WWII, the critically acclaimed animated drama follows the life of a young flight-obsessed engineer who designs Japanese fighter planes, a plot inspired by the real-life creator of the Mitsubishi A5M and A6M Zero, Jiro Horikoshi. As the highest grossing Japanese film of 2013, The Wind Rises also took out the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It sounds like a must-see for Studio Ghibli fans and aviation nerds, plus those keen to experience what sounds like the last film from a truly legendary animator. The film will play in Japanese and English, with respective subtitles. Its English language cast includes Joseph Gordon Levitt, Elijah Wood and Emily Blunt. The Wind Rises is in cinemas on Thursday, February 27, and thanks to Madman Films, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
In the space of a mere two days to close out May, two tales of two puppeteers join the streaming ranks. Eric is pure fiction, but it's impossible not to think about Jim Henson while watching it, regardless of whether you also have a small-screen date with Jim Henson Idea Man. Creator and writer Abi Morgan — who has previously penned the likes of Shame, The Iron Lady, The Invisible Woman, Suffragette, River and The Split — puts a Henson-esque figure with his own hit TV show for kids at the core of her six-part miniseries. Played by Benedict Cumberbatch (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) in a performance that's bound to receive awards attention, the bearded and lanky Vincent Anderson even physically resembles the man behind The Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. As evident to everyone watching Eric from Thursday, May 30 on Netflix, its protagonist definitely isn't Henson. Firstly, Anderson is an abusive alcoholic. Secondly, his nine-year-old son Edgar (debutant Ivan Morris Howe) goes missing one morning on his walk to school, which he was supposed to accompany him on as his main contribution to fatherhood. And thirdly, the eponymous Eric is a seven-foot-tall monster muppet who his boy scribbled to life on the page and then starts following Vincent as his mental health struggles after Edgar disappears. But binge-viewing your way through Eric — and it is engrossingly bingeable — means being unable to shake the feeling that Morgan pondered "what if?" about Henson in all of the above scenarios. As a series, the 1985-set Eric is as ambitious as it is expertly acted; neither daring in general nor absorbing portrayals are lacking. The exceptional Cumberbatch sits at the crux of both as Eric asks another "what if?": what if someone experiencing the terror of their child going AWOL wasn't at their best before their life is turned upside down, because heartbreak and horror don't solely blight pictures of perfection? There's force behind his work as Vincent by design, with the audience asked to feel every ounce of his agony and the chaos he wreaks. Cumberbatch finds haunting nuance in the part, too, as subtlety simmers in every key portrayal — from Howe, Gaby Hoffmann (C'mon C'mon) as Edgar's mother and McKinley Belcher III (One Piece) as the cop on the case through to Clarke Peters (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody) as a neighbour, Bamar Kane (Io Capitano) as an unhoused street artist and Adepero Oduye (Five Days at Memorial) as another mum looking for her lost boy. Eric is also instantly involving and deeply layered as it queries how a bright world can turn unkind, cruel and corrupt. It's an ordinary day when Edgar trundles out his New York City door alone, and routine even in the fact that Vincent and Hoffman's Cassie have been fighting. With the series starting with Edgar's parents fronting the media flanked by police, pleading for their son to come home — Vincent speaks directly to him through the camera — viewers know what's in store before the boy doesn't arrive at class. Morgan and director Lucy Forbes (This Is Going to Hurt), who helms the entire miniseries with poise, can't ever be accused of lacing their tale with inevitability, however. Rather, pain and poignancy are Eric's constants. Swiftly, the Anderson family is plunged into crisis. As he frays visibly and publicly, the already-erratic and egotistical Vincent still can't tear himself away from work on Good Day Sunshine. The show, plus conjuring imaginary friends to life with felt, was the primary glue between the Anderson men (Edgar's bedroom overflows with sketches that resemble his dad's). Vincent isn't merely distracting himself by keeping busy or clinging to something that bonded him with his kid; he becomes obsessed with turning Eric into his show's newest character. At home, their marriage disintegrating, Cassie is certain that reward money from her husband's rich parents (The Big Cigar's John Doman and Anatomy of a Scandal's Phoebe Nicholls), who he's estranged from, will help rustle up information on her son's whereabouts. One of the bold choices that Morgan makes is not just to take a setup that could've fuelled the series by itself — abduction thrillers are their own genre — and add a complicated character study complete with a furry pal manifesting as a man's guilt, regret and sorrow; she also ensures that Eric functions as a portrait of 80s New York, with graffiti and garbage a consistent sight, and the city's homeless population a frequent topic of discussion. Here, enter NYPD detective Michael Ledroit (Belcher III), who is investigating while handling his own baggage. He's still trying to find another disappeared boy from 11 months ago, 14-year-old Marlon (Bence Orere, another newcomer), but with far less support because the child is Black. Ledroit is also a closeted gay Black man in a workplace and at a time that's hardly welcoming, and with a partner (Mark Gillis, Hollyoaks) dying of AIDS-related illness. Accordingly, Eric is a snapshot of a crumbling family, and of a man facing his worst nightmare and mental deterioration in tandem; a missing-person procedural about two vanished boys and the dissimilar attitudes to bringing them home; and a wander through the Big Apple in a distinctive period, and through the inequality engrained in everything from race and class to sexuality and power with those bearing its brunt. Its namesake may seem as if he could've strolled out of Monsters, Inc., albeit with a gruff voice and no aversion to swearing — and "be good, be kind, be brave, be different" might be Good Day Sunshine's motto — but this is always a tale of darkness, pain and the reality that sunny days sweeping the clouds away are so rare that they need to be clung to. In a busy year for childhood buddies on-screen, Eric isn't optimistic fantasy IF or dull horror film Imaginary, though. It also isn't 2018's terrible adult puppet flick The Happytime Murders, which had a Henson pedigree: Brian, son of Jim, plus director of both The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, helmed it. When it swings through clubs where sex sells, examines the impact of gentrification, and unpacks the dishonesty and violence that can colour the thin blue line and the institutions behind it to the detriment of a city, The Deuce and The Wire both appear to be influences (Peters and Doman's supporting parts assist). Puppets don't nest one inside the other, but this series with one at its centre repeatedly proves the TV equivalent of a matryoshka doll. Check out the trailer for Eric below: Eric streams via Netflix from Thursday, May 30, 2024.
10x10 is a youth- and volunteer-led organisation encouraging the next generation to get involved in philanthropy. How it does this, however, is a little different — it raises money for charities by hosting interactive, live crowdfunding events. And it's next one is happening in Sydney on Thursday, April 19. The organisation was started four years ago by a group of young people who wanted to make a difference. Since then, it has raised over $1.2 million for 108 different charities across Australia, UK, Hong Kong and the USA. The events — which are held biannually in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide — are broken into three parts. First, you head to 10x10's website to make a pledge of $100 or more (this amount will be converted into "Charity Dollars" and is also your ticket). Next, you rock up to the event, where three different start-up charities will pitch their causes to the crowd. Finally, you decide what charity you want your pledge, or "Charity Dollars", to go to and bam — a little more goodness is created in the world and a charity nabs some much-needed funds. You'll also have the chance to sip wine, snack on complimentary bites and chat to like-minded, philanthropic folk at the event. So think of it as a fundraiser-meets-cocktail party (without the starched collars and ballgowns). Pitching on the night will be Barayamal, an organisation supporting Indigenous youth; The John Mac Foundation, who works to empower refugees and others impacted by war; and the Dandelion Support Network, who organises physical donations for young families in need. If you feel any of these are more in need of your dollars than you and your avocado toast (they are), get amongst it — you can make your pledges here and they're 100-percent tax-deductible.
Jessi Singh, the mind behind some of the country's best Indian restaurants, now has a home on York Street. Pinky-Ji is Singh's second Sydney outpost, launched with the help of former Chin Chin chef Johann Jay, who built a cult following throughout Australia with his unorthodox eateries in Melbourne, Byron Bay, Adelaide and Surry Hills. "Pinky-Ji is the younger, sassier, and more independent version of our much-loved Daughter In Law," says Singh. "The menu in our venue will bring all of the fun and unauthentic food that Daughter in Law is synonymous with — with a slightly more elevated twist." At Pinky-Ji, you can expect flamboyant decor, including images of Bollywood stars, neon lighting and red velvet furniture to create an extraordinary atmosphere of luxury. When exploring the menu, keep an eye out for the seven key sections — snacks, raw, street, grill, wok, tandoor and curry — plus bread, sides and drinks. Kick things off with a snack like a curry crab croqueta ($8). From there, dip your toes into the Mumbai Corn, accompanied by chilli lime yoghurt, paneer and curry popcorn ($16). If you're looking for a menu item that packs an extra punch, opt for the half-lobster covered in Sri Lankan coconut curry leaf sambal ($48). You'll find that many of the menu items can be shared around the table. From the wok section, you can order crab fried rice with chilli oil ($30), while the curry selection spans from unauthentic butter chicken ($32) and fragrant yellow vegan dahl ($22) to coconut prawns ($32) and lamb rogan josh ($32), all of which can be paired with aged basmati rice ($6), garlic or sesame naan ($5-$12), and roti ($5). There is no shortage of crowd-pleasers. Still feeling indecisive? Opt for the Chef's Selection. For $65 per person, this includes Balls of Happiness for entree, kingfish ceviche, cauliflower, shakarkandi chaat, tandoor chicken, alongside a variety of curries with rice and naan, plus a pistachio dessert. Finally, when the time comes to pair a drink with your curry, you can opt for a classic cocktail or peruse the help-yourself craft beer fridges for a hoppy treat. To top off all of the eccentric fun of Pinky-Ji, the private dining room features a karaoke machine loaded up with songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. You'll find Pinky Ji in our list of the best degustations in Sydney. Check out the full list here.
When Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced New South Wales' latest stage of eased COVID-19 restrictions, she gave cinephiles a particularly exciting piece of news. Movie theatres have been closed around the country since mid-March; however, with current caps on indoor venues lifting on Wednesday, July 1, it appears that projectors will be allowed to start whirring again in the state. And, while that doesn't mean that it's popcorn-munching business as usual quite yet, local cinemas will gradually begin to reopen. Randwick Ritz will be one of the initial places to start ushering movie buffs back into darkened rooms, opening its doors on the very first day it can. And it's celebrating with a week of $10 tickets. If you're a Ritz Royalty member (or happy to sign up for $18 a year), you'll get tickets for even cheaper: $8. From Wednesday, July 1 to Tuesday, July 7, you can treat your mum, bestie or date to a flick for just ten dollaroos. Some of the films you'll be able to catch during the week include flicks that hit the big screen just before lockdown — The Invisible Man, Sonic the Hedgehog, Portrait of a Lady on Fire and The Current War — plus new movies that were originally slated to hit cinemas during their closure, such as Hugo Weaving-starring Hearts and Bones and Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan eating and bantering their way through The Trip to Greece. A couple of previews are on the lineup, too, including the Palme d'Or-nominated It Must be Heaven, NZ comedy Bellbird and travel documentary Romantic Road, as well as retro flicks like 1942 drama Casablanca and Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. [caption id="attachment_755894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Portrait of a Lady on Fire[/caption] Top image: Kimberley Low
Bored of your usual Wednesday-night entertainment? Head to Friend in Hand for something a little different — crab racing. Expect crisp-and-cold schooners of Reschs, Coopers, Young Henrys and Fat Yak whilst you watch an upturned bucket of hermit crabs race to the finish line. They've been doing it every Wednesday night at 8pm for the past 22 years. Image: Kitti Smallbone
Theatre companies set their programs often a year before a play opens, and sometimes it means the things we see on stage don't directly speak to current events. Not so Fury, the Sydney Theatre Company's commission from prominent Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith. Opening, coincidentally, in the same week as the heartbreaking Boston Marathon bombings, it deals deeply with the mindsets of teenagers who commit ideologically driven acts of violence. Eighteen is the age of criminal responsibility, we know. But how do we judge a culprit who is seventeen? How about nineteen? Fury's central character is Alice (Sarah Peirse), a scientist about to be honoured with an award for her contribution to cancer treatment. She and her supportive novelist husband, Patrick (Robert Menzies), lead beautiful, privileged, liberal-leaning lives — and those lives are shattered when their only son, Joe (Harry Greenwood), is caught graffiting a mosque. They don't know what to blame: Evil nature? Their failed nurture? The influence of Joe's meathead best friend? Their troubles are made even more fraught by the hovering of Rebecca (Geraldine Hakewill), a student journo with a rigour more suited to Four Corners. Critics seize on Murray-Smith for her middle-class preoccupations, and it's hard to argue with that via Fury. Her one attempt to introduce salt-of-the-earth working-class types is definitely the low point of the play, a crude stereotyping that's uncomfortable to watch alongside the individually shaded educated characters that get to occupy the rest of this world. Still, you can't dismiss Murray-Smith; she is a formidable writer. The story is fierce, the dialogue electric. If the characters act in service to big ideas, in Fury at least, it's a symbiotic relationship. Peirse's Alice is a big, seductive, mercurial character, and Menzies' Patrick is the warm, empathic heart of the thing. But the most compelling figure on stage is actually teen riddle Joe, brought to life in a breakthrough main-stage debut from NIDA grad Harry Greenwood. Whether he's being introduced to us in sullen silence, going off on bigoted rants or naively big-noting himself to pretty strangers, there are always further layers to the character glinting just beneath the surface, and it makes a huge impact on the play as a whole. Hakewill is a similar talent, but some of her scenes seem undercooked; Rebecca is a loose cannon in these people's crystal lives, and her manipulations rarely get a chance to reverberate. All up, I found myself both loving and hating Fury, which is much better than those plays that make you feel nothing at all. I disagree with what could be called Murray-Smith's 'theses' here — that the root of youthful idealism is in rebellion against one's upbringing, that left-wing and right-wing radicalism are equivalent — but they're part of an enjoyable, challenging, satisfying ride. I loved small things — Alice's clean-lined Jil Sander outfits and grey-streaked blow-wave for starters (my upper-middle-class bias comes out that way). And I loved weighty things — the critical confrontations between characters tear you apart with their moral dilemmas. Fury is a mixed bag, but a mixed bag worth chewing over.
During 2020's lockdown, Gelato Messina served up plenty of tasty specials to keep our tastebuds occupied at home — including cookie pies in choc chip, red velvet, choc-hazelnut, and peanut butter and jelly varieties, as well as 40 of its best gelato flavours — and one of them proved particularly popular: Iced Vovo tubs. Now, the gelato fiends are bringing back the gelato version of everyone's favourite childhood biscuit for another limited round. Wondering what exactly Iced VoVo gelato entails? It combines toasted coconut gelato with pieces of shortbread biscuit, then tops it with marshmallow, raspberry puree and desiccated coconut. And yes, the end result looks like the bikkies you know and love — but in a scoopable form. Available as part of Messina's 'Hot Tub' series, the Iced VoVo gelato can only be ordered online on Monday, January 18, with a one-litre tub setting you back $30. You can then go into your chosen Messina store to pick up your tub between Friday, January 22–Sunday, January 24. The tubs are available to order from all Aussie stores except The Star and Coolangatta. Gelato Messina's Iced VoVo gelato tubs will be available to order from 10am on Monday, January 18, for pick up between Friday, January 22–Sunday, January 24 — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but can a picture capture the unique sound of a moment, of laughter, of a single word? With Bespoken Art, your words can in fact be translated into a work of art, a canvas that depicts the exact sound waves of your voice. Founder and CEO David Caulkins launched the company to create "art that speaks volumes," and his vision has given individuals the opportunity to hang on to a particular sound. By uploading sound bites to the Bespoken Art website or recording a word or phrase over the phone, sound waves are captured and printed onto a canvas. You can personalize the picture even more by choosing the color and size of the canvas and sound wave, making it a true original. Bespoken Art allows you to capture a quote, sound or word with the Classic Sound Portrait, combine up to five different voices on the Multiple Voice Sound Portrait, pair up with your significant other to share vows in the Double Pane Sound Portrait or print a smaller laser-printed version with the Desktop Sound Portrait. You can even capture audio over 30 seconds with the Song Sound Portrait, for meaningful songs or messages. Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but words can now paint beautiful pictures.
Next Thursday, March 13, will see the sixth annual, four-day Taste of Sydney festival set up shop in Centennial Park to deliver a foodie feast far more suited to our city’s more discerning palates. This year’s a biggun, primed to serve up a whole heap of delicious treats. There'll be more than 60 selected food, wine and cocktail items, including recipes designed especially for you; 100+ bespoke artisan producers and providers; a plethora of demos and masterclasses for budding cooks, chefs, bloggers and beyond; plus music and entertainment throughout for those simply after a bite and a bevvy. But before you get lost in a huge list of must-trys, it’s always important to remember that you don’t need a gastronomical portfolio rivalling Matt Preston’s cravat to know what’s good. All you need is this guide, an empty stomach and an open mind. Come Hungry An obvious tip but one to be taken seriously: there’s going to be a lot to choose from and the last thing you want to do is limit yourself because you lunched too late. For example, Surry Hills' fave Chur Burger will have you salivating over their bespoke 'Taste' burger, while the folks behind Newtown’s Bloodwood will be making their presence known. Other standouts include Popolo, Biota, 4Fourteen, Four in Hand, Jonah’s, Porteno and Longrain. Prepare for a Hangover We’re not telling you to binge drink yourself into oblivion, but the 'taste' element at Taste ain’t just solids. The Gourmet Traveller WINE Pop Up Bar by Rushcutters, for example, will be the place to sip and savour a host of selected drops. Or, if wine’s not your thing, try the new apple and guava flavour among the usual refreshingly sweet combinations at the Rekorderlig Cider Bar. The Sail & Anchor Beer Hall have hops and barley sorted through interactive sessions and tastings from Australia’s best home-grown and imported labels, while Cointreau and Galliano will be whipping up a cocktail or two. Learning is Fun! This year will see the launch of the brand new Lurpak Cookery School teaching how to best use said Danish butter, while the Plumm Wine Theatre presented by Gourmet Traveller WINE asks you to pop in and lift your wine knowledge alongside prestigious sommeliers and critics. Others not to be missed are the food and beverage matching masterclasses by Celebrity Cruises, the always popular Country Kitchen for the eco-minded among us, and Sensology’s The Art of Cocktail Making. Of course, the Taste Kitchen is back again with Sydney’s top chefs sharing the secrets of their favourite dishes, and the Dilmah Chef's Skillery in association with Australian Gourmet Traveller is the place to have all those burning questions answered. Warm Up Your Bowling Arm 2014’s Taste of Sydney has a pretty nifty little attraction brought to us by Galliano in the form of a two-lane Bocce area upon entrance, allowing multiple players the chance to enjoy a game of this boules-related funtime while sipping a cocktail or three. Look out for picket fencing and seating, or simply listen out for the laughter as pissed-up people attempt to give this a go. Tassie is Trending Not only is the Tasmanian Pavilion returning this year with its focus on all the best produce to ever grace our fair shores from the Apple Isle (we’re talking seafood, bakeries, wineries, distilleries and butchers all showcasing their gourmet delicacies), there’s also the opportunity to win a holiday for two including flights, accommodation and car hire to, you guessed it, Tassie. It Doesn't Hurt to Spoil Yourself With so much going on, it never hurts to treat yourself to a little luxury, and the Taste of Sydney VIP Lounge includes two complimentary drinks, unlimited access to the lounge and $30 worth of Crowns (festival currency) to use at any of the vendors you desire. VIP tickets also come with $20 GoodFood Gift card and a $50 UBERblack ride. After all, this festival comes but once a year and we all deserve a little extra sparkle now and again. Taste of Sydney will run from Thursday, March 13, to Sunday, March 17, 2014. Tickets start from $25 and are on sale now from Ticketek. Take advantage of the special ticket offer and book two general entry tickets for $40. Just enter the word FEAST into the promotional code box when booking. This offer is valid on advance purchase tickets only and applies to general entry tickets. Crowns (the official Taste currency) can be pre-purchased in denominations of 30 or 50 Crowns through Ticketek.
With drought blighting the country, Australia just sweltering through its hottest summer on record, and severe storms popping up with frequency in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, there's little doubt that the earth's climate is changing. And while the subject has fuelled many a documentary in recent years, a new Australian film is taking a different approach. Rather than chronicling the bleak status quo, it ponders how we could improve things for the future. The second film from actor-turned-director Damon Gameau, 2040 sees the Aussie exploring areas such as climate, economics, technology, civil society, agriculture and sustainability — chatting with experts, assessing the best technology currently available and prognosticating on what life might be like if we were to embrace solutions that are being worked on today. Specifically, he muses on the state of the planet in 21 years time, using his young daughter as inspiration, with the doco framed as a letter to the now four-year-old. In his previous feature back in 2014, Gameau took on unhealthy diets by consuming a whole heap of sugary food — and given That Sugar Film's local success, it's hardly surprising that he's taking a personal approach to an important topic once again. 2040 premiered last month at the Berlin Film Festival, where it struck a chord with audiences, and will have its Aussie debut at the Gold Coast Film Festival in April before releasing around the country in May. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-rTQ443akE&feature=youtu.be 2040 opens in Australian cinemas on May 23.
Whether you're travelling from Sydney to Canberra or Parramatta, Melbourne to Geelong, or Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, you'll soon be able to get there a whole lot quicker — or that's the plan, at least. Various government bodies have announced various high-speed transport proposals throughout 2018, all focused on journeying relatively short distances in as short a time as possible. But if a potential new transit network comes to fruition, Australians would be able to zip between many capital cities in less than an hour. One of several companies trying to build Elon Musk's Hyperloop vacuum-tube transport system, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has lodged a submission to the federal government's current parliamentary inquiry into automated mass transit. Its key feature: travelling at a top speed of 1223 kilometres per hour. At speeds that fast, you'd be able to zoom from Brisbane to Sydney in 37 minutes, and from Sydney to Melbourne in the same amount of time. Melbourne to Adelaide would take just 33 minutes, while a jaunt down from Sydney to Canberra would need a mere 14 minutes, and venturing from Canberra to Melbourne would be over in 23 minutes. The timings are just estimates for now; however each potential leg proves considerably quicker than the equivalent plane journey — and the longest outlined route, from Brisbane to Adelaide, would take one hour and 47 minutes. Zipping between the northern and southern ends of the country faster than you can watch a movie sounds incredibly enticing, as does simply popping over to another city for a day trip. Billed as "bringing aeroplane speeds to ground level", Hyperloop sends capsules along low-pressure tubes, with each capsule seating 38 passengers. That said, the system is still well and truly in the testing phase. In October, Hyperloop TT's first full-scale passenger capsule was revealed in Spain, with the company also building a 320-metre system in France. By next year, it intends to construct a one-kilometre system for further pilots. If Hyperloop does become a reality, Hyperloop TT's Aussie submission also suggests incorporating the Gold Coast, the Southern Highlands, Newcastle, Wollongong, Nowra, Port Macquarie and Orange into routes — further broadening the network's reach, reducing road congestion and decentralising the country away from major cities, all while using solar panels to power the system. There's no proposed timeframe in Hyperloop TT's proposal, so don't go dreaming about zooming across the country just yet. Also, this isn't the first time that Hyperloop has been proposed for Australia, with rival outfit Hyperloop One outlining plans for a Sydney to Melbourne route back in 2016. Via news.com.au. Images: Hyperloop TT.
Urban dwellers are usually more accustomed to seeing copious amounts of neutral tones around our cities than bright splashes of colour. It's argued that colour makes people feel happier, so wouldn't it be nice if our city looked like one big rainbow, or perhaps an array of different shades of blue or pink? Many charming little towns throughout the world have put this idea into practice, painting their buildings in bold and bright colours. The bursts of colour add an artistic ambiance to older buildings and bring a source of life to cities during the colder months, and become popular tourist destinations in the summer. Here is a collection of the best examples of places around the globe where colour reigns supreme. La Boca, Argentina Jodhpur, India Bo-Kaap, South Africa Guanajuato, Mexico San Francisco, USA Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles St John's, Canada Riomaggiore, Italy Wroclaw, Poland Salvador, Brazil Jaipur, India [via Environmental Graffiti]
Sydney nightlife precinct YCK Laneways is making the most of the month of August with a four-week music, art, food and drink festival celebrating women in creative industries and hospitality. As part of YCK Front & Centre, more than 50 individual events will take place across 15 CBD venues. The culmination of the festival will be across the August 26 weekend with a three-day marquee event titled Front & Centre presents: Live at YCK. Throughout the days, attendees will be treated to masterclasses from hospitality veterans including a spirits distilling workshop from Women of Australian Distilling, a Cornersmith-led pickle your own vegetable masterclass and a truffle grading and tasting experience with Ganymede Truffles. Come nighttime, live music and entertainment will take over with a stacked lineup including sets from the likes of Jaguar Jonze, JOY, Bella Hatch, Kilimi and Pirra. Across the 15 venues, there is a tonne of other highlights. Over at PS40, the bar will be running its regular chef collaboration series with a female-led lineup; Esteban will be hosting live art from Nanami Cowdroy; plus female and non-binary DJ collective Pho the Girls will be taking over Since I Left You among the dozens of events popping up across the laneways. Rounding out the program is a series of limited-edition cocktails inspired by Moulin Rouge! The Musical which has been rolled out across the venues for the entire 31-day program.
What's big, spiky and attracts tourists from all over? Whether you grew up in the shadow of one of south-east Queensland's great tourist attractions, made the trek to the Sunshine Coast to marvel an oversized fake fruit, or always thought you'd snap a pic next to the pineapple to end all pineapples, you know the answer. Soon, however, you might be able to do more than just visit, take photos, browse the markets, meet some monkeys and eat the sweet, juicy food in question — you might be able to sleep there. Yes, glamping could be coming to the one and only Big Pineapple. If that's not news that'll make you hightail it to Nambour, then we don't know what is. With the iconic site under new ownership, the folks in charge are thinking big — well, bigger than the previous owners did, including the people responsible for building such a massive monument to a particular tropical fruit. Among the additions mooted for the 165-hectare site: a family fun park, an RV park, walking trails, outdoor sport and recreation facilities, and fancy, fancy tents so that you can stay the night. The plans are designed to help bring the Big Pineapple back to its former glory, with the 16-metre-high attraction's tourist trade not quite at previous booming levels. Since opening in 1971, the heritage-listed fruit tower has seen a few changes, opening and closing over the years, undergoing several revamps, and introducing the annual Big Pineapple Music Festival in 2013. "What we want to do is make a food-based and eco-tourism-based destination that incorporates the existing big pineapple, but adds other things ... and has outlets for local produce," co-owner Peter Kendall told ABC Sunshine Coast. "There's rainforest on the land that would lend itself to eco-walks [and] we've talked about things like zip lining." Existing favourites, such as the animal hospital and train, will be retained. And, for anyone who feels strongly about just what the Big Pineapple should add to the site, an open day will be held on February 18 for interested parties to offer their input into the new proposals. Via: ABC Sunshine Coast. Image: Holiday Point.
Situated at the heart of Sydney's historic centre, The Collective is Hunter St. Hospitality's new dining and drinking precinct bringing the ideal blend of sophistication and easygoing atmosphere. Opening in April, three restaurants, four bars and several smaller spots primed for elegant refreshments contrast against the storied neighbourhood's cobblestoned streets and turn-of-the-century architecture. Old meets new in terms of the dining options too, with much-loved establishments like Saké and The Cut Bar & Grill complementing the arrival of The Collective's three headline venues – The Garden, The Dining Room, and Cloakroom. With each offering a distinctive atmosphere and culinary flair, there's no shortage of ways to match your mood whether you're seeking an intimate dinner for two or a group feast with friends. Diving into the new venues, The Garden is an al fresco eatery styled after leafy, Parisian courtyard restaurants. Surrounded by heritage-listed buildings in this central hideaway, the vibe shifts from low-key coffee and sandwiches in the shade during the day to cocktails and dinner beneath a starry sky at night. Drawing from The Dining Room's menu, expect light and bright fare, like king prawn cutlets with gribiche. The Dining Room levels up the sophistication inside with welcoming but refined cuisine and surrounds. Here, a locally focused menu becomes a little more indulgent, with seafood dishes like blacklip abalone with bottarga and black rice alongside yellow tuna with blood plum and celery. After your feast, you're invited to head upstairs to the bar and lounge for cocktails and cosy seating. Building on this identity, Cloakroom is where guests can kick back in style with a top-shelf cocktail. Designed for maximum moodiness, warm timbers, dim lighting and plush seating give this 20-seat venue a swanky ambience. The drinks menu is suitably luxe, with a signature Cloakroom martini flanked by a complex collection of cocktails ready to enliven your evening. "Hospitality precincts are having a moment in Sydney, and I believe their appeal will only grow. With an 1800sqm footprint spread across three levels, we saw an opportunity to create something even more special with the properties we already have," says Hunter St. Hospitality CEO, Frank Tucker. "Each venue offers something unique, from casual dining to premium experiences, making The Collective as appealing to tourists exploring the area as it is for corporate and Sydneysiders." The Collective opens in April 2025 at 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks. Head to the website for more information. Images: Steven Woodburn.
A brand new restaurant has cropped up in inner west Sydney that looks poised to take the Australian food scene by storm. Nestled in the heart of Camperdown, the menu at The Corner is jam packed with fashionable dining options, from lentil and eggplant salad to roast Moroccan chicken breast, tomato and bocconcini Caprese salad to...Wait a minute, are those McNuggets? Yes, Sydney's hottest new eatery turned out to be a Maccas in disguise. Described by the fast food giant as a 'learning lab', the site will be used to trial a bunch of new menu options, presumably in a bid to combat their flagging sales. Which is all very well and good, but come on. Brioche McMuffins? Pulled pork Quarter Pounders? What kind of twisted bait and switch is the Hamburglar trying to pull? Of course, the reality is that a bit of sneaky rebranding is de rigueur for companies like these. McDonald's isn't the first chain to try and capture a trendier market share, and it certainly won't be the last. Here are four other examples of mass producing omnicorps attempting to cash in on foodie culture. YOUR FAVOURITE CORNER COFFEE JOINT TURNED OUT TO BE A STARBUCKS No self-respecting coffee lover would ever be caught dead in Starbucks. That is, unless they didn’t know it was a Starbucks. In an attempt to raise sales in the wake of the global recession, the massive coffee chain started to revamp a number of its US and European locations in 2010, removing all traces of the company name save for a nauseating caveat that the 'new' stores were 'inspired by Starbucks'. The good news is that Australia's coffee snobbery has already killed close to three quarters of the Starbucks locations down under, so our chances of being hoodwinked are fairly slim. That is, unless they just said they were closing all those stores. Maybe it was just a trick. Maybe they never left at all. BURGER KING TRIED OUT 'SODA PAIRINGS' It's common knowledge that certain wines go better with certain foods. All Burger King tried to do was apply that same basic principal to soft drink in 2014. Taped half-heartedly to the side of a soda fountain, their pairings seem somewhat arbitrary to me, but then again I'm no sommelier. After a hearty Angus Burger and onion rings, who's to say that a 'crisp, clear bodied' Sprite doesn’t sit better on the palate than a Diet Coke? Honestly, this feeble attempt at classing up the joint isn't so much insidious as it is really, really lame. That being said, nothing goes well with Dr. Pepper. YOUR AVERAGE BP SERVO SANDWICH WENT ALL 'ARTISAN' When they're not too busy pumping oil into the ocean, it turns out BP make freshly baked artisan bread. And brew 100 percent organic coffee. And build rescue shelters for injured puppies. Okay fine, so I made up that last one. But the other two are apparently staples of Jack & Co., self-described as "the freshest convenience stores in the world". The original store was fused to a BP service station in 2012, but recent openings in Taree, NSW have evolved into their own faux-gourmet, corporate guilt-alleviating entities. YOUR KFC ZINGER COMBO WILL HAVE CRAFT BEER FOR THE DRINK Face it: if Mickey D is targeting hipsters, this lot were never far behind. Kudos to the Colonel for at least having the giblets to keep the initials — not that KFC actually stands for anything anymore. In any case, Parramattans will soon be able to get beer and cider with their original recipe, when 'KFC Urban' is granted a liquor licence later in 2015. Like McDonald's, KFC has been falling behind in the fast food arms race, losing younger customers to chains like Nandos and Grill’d. Rather than serving up a kale burger, their solution is apparently to just get everybody sloshed. Frankly, I have absolutely no problem with that. Images: The Corner, Fast Company, Imgur, Jack & Co., KFC.
If you're a devotee of the theatre, then August is definitely your month in Sydney. There are shows galore, from Broadway classics such as Chicago and West Side Story to the musical productions of Bring It On at the State Theatre and Muriel's Wedding at Sydney Lyric Theatre. Feet already tapping to the imaginary music? Well, it might just be time to book yourself in for a theatre-themed staycation. Line up all the shows you want to check out and book into the luxurious West Hotel on Sussex Street, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton to be your home away from home. The new hotel is based on Sussex St in the CBD, conveniently close to the theatres, and a heap of bars, cafes and restaurants that you can visit in between shows. [caption id="attachment_650803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bennelong. Image: Brett Stevens.[/caption] ENJOY A DAZZLING PRE-SHOW DINNER There's nothing worse than sitting through a show you're absolutely loving, except you can't concentrate properly because your tummy is rumbling. Avoid the discomfort by calling into one of these venues before the theatre doors open. The minimalist share plates at Poly in Surry Hills are a failsafe choice if you're heading to the Capitol Theatre. And before any State Theatre show, a sumptuous Italian feast at QT Sydney's low-lit, elegant Parlour Cucina is just the ticket. If you don't feel like dining at the Star Casino eateries before heading to the Lyric Theatre, it's worth trying out the evening tasting menu at the gracefully European-inspired Pyrmont wine bar Bar Clementine. Finally, if you're seeing West Side Story at the Sydney Opera House and want to really make a night of it, there's no better choice than Bennelong's Big Night Out set menu, which features high-end versions of Aussie favourite (yes, including Bennelong's famous lamington dessert) for $170 a head. [caption id="attachment_698588" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bancho Bar.[/caption] DEBRIEF POST-SHOW OVER A COCKTAIL Everyone knows that after you leave the theatre, you are feeling alive and filled with melodious energy. So, it's the perfect time to head to a nearby bar with your theatre buddy and discuss all your favourite moments from the stage spectacular you just witnessed. If you're seeing Chicago at Capitol Theatre, then head to Haymarket's Bancho Bar for a Japanese-inspired cocktail and some delicious katsu skewers. After an Opera House show, stop by Kittyhawk, which is just a quick walk up Macquarie Street, to find a Parisian military-themed bar with a seriously interesting cocktail list. Solander Dining and Bar is a top spot to hit for a gab and na Aussie botanical cocktail after seeing Muriel's Wedding at Sydney Lyric Theatre, while mezcal bar Cantina OK! is an ideal place to check out after a visit to the State Theatre. It's only a six-minute walk back home to your lavish room at West Hotel, too. [caption id="attachment_635708" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Opera House. Image: Letícia Almeida[/caption] HAVE A TRUE BEHIND-THE-SCENES THEATRE EXPERIENCE If you always dreamt of being a performer (but unfortunately lacked the voice or moves), this is your chance to take a peek behind the stage curtain. On the Sydney Opera House backstage tour, you'll not only be guided around all the backstage nooks and crannies but also regaled with behind-the-scenes stories of performers and shows that have graced the stages. Plus, you'll also get finish your tour with a delicious breakfast in the Green Room (typically the domain of crew and performers). If that's not enough to delight your operatic senses, The Opera Centre in Surry Hills also offers tours. This is where sets, costumes and props are made for some of Sydney's biggest productions, so you'll get to poke around the production workshops and see the huge amount of work, talent and skill that goes into staging the productions you adore. [caption id="attachment_729157" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Old Fitzroy. Image: Tanya Saint James.[/caption] HANG OUT WITH LOCAL THESPIANS Ask any aspiring actor or beloved Aussie thespian — certainly anyone in the Sydney theatre scene — and they'll tell you the same thing: there's nowhere better for a schooner than Woolloomooloo icon The Old Fitzroy Hotel. The Old Fitz, recently taken over by new owners, houses Australia's only 'pub theatre' — the stage of which has welcomed some of Australia's most beloved acting talents. The regulars, many of whom graced the stages of a bygone era or wrote some of Sydney's best local productions, are part of this pub's furniture and their stories will no doubt delight. Enjoy a classic British pub feed on the back patio, then head to the front tables to see if any of the regular famous Aussie faces will be joining you. [caption id="attachment_586723" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Moya's Juniper Lounge. Image: Steven Woodburn.[/caption] HEAD TO A JAZZ BAR IF YOU CAN'T GET 'ALL THAT JAZZ' OUT OF YOUR HEAD If you're one of the many heading to the Capitol Theatre to see the Broadway classic Chicago, then chances are you'll spend the following few days with 'All That Jazz' on unrelenting repeat in your head. The only way to resolve that, in our opinion, is giving your noggin what it's asking for: all the jazz. Hit up Marrickville jazz haunt Lazybones Lounge or, if you need something a little closer to the city, Venue 505 is a quintessential Surry Hills jazz bar that's only a 10-minute drive from West Hotel. And if you're free on a Sunday night, Moya's Juniper Lounge in Redfern has all the live jazz you could ever want — plus $10 negronis. [caption id="attachment_722457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Glenmore.[/caption] GET A DOSE OF SHAKESPEARE AT A PUB Shakespeare shows probably conjure up visions of stuffy playhouses and equally stuffy patrons — but, historically, performances of the Bard's work were much less refined. So bringing Shakespeare shows back to their roots in pubs is exactly what the creators of Bar'd Work, Chris Huntly-Turner and James Haxby, set out to achieve. The Shakesbeer Sessions happen at pubs all around Sydney — the majority of which are a quick 10-minute drive from West Hotel, like the aptly named Shakespeare Hotel or The Glenmore — so check out the calendar here to see what tragicomedy is on the books next. [caption id="attachment_697915" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Goros.[/caption] BELT OUT YOUR FAVOURITE TUNES AT A KARAOKE BAR You've just exited the theatre doors with music in your heart and your head is filled with show tunes — maybe the catchy cheerleading chants from Bring It On, the Broadway classics of Chicago or West Side Story or the hits of ABBA beloved by the titular character in Muriel's Wedding. What do you want to do more than anything? Do your own star performance, of course. Luckily, Sydney has plenty of options. You and your show buddies can share the glass karaoke room and giant Japanese katsu at Bang Bang or head to Goros for a private room and plenty of Japanese cocktails and bar snacks. If you want to kick on, Sydney institution Ding Dong Dang has plenty of private karaoke rooms so you can continue to get boozy and belt out 'Mamma Mia' into the wee hours. [caption id="attachment_698575" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Employees Only.[/caption] HAVE AN AUTHENTIC NYC DINING EXPERIENCE AFTER SEEING 'WEST SIDE STORY' If you've got your tickets in-hand and are eagerly hanging out to see West Side Story at the Opera House, make the wait little more bearable with a tasty NYC-inspired meal. For a proper NYC bagel that emulates the pastrami monstrosities from Katz's Delicatessan, head to Brooklyn Boy Bagels in the CBD. If you're after a long, boozy lunch, NYC-inspired cafe Bowery Lane is a perfect choice, offering hickory-smoked salmon on rye, juicy pork cutlet and an impressive wine list with plenty of drops from the US. Or for dinner and a drink, head to Employees Only — this delightful underground venue is the Sydney outpost of the award-winning New York speakeasy. It's serving up monterey jack cheeseburgers, marrow poppers, caviar service with blinis and, of course, world-class cocktails. Don't worry if you have one too many — your room at West Hotel is only a few minutes away. [caption id="attachment_731501" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Dance Company.[/caption] PRACTISE YOUR BEST 'CELL BLOCK TANGO' WITH A THEATRE JAZZ DANCE CLASS If you can't stop those feet from tapping and sashay-ing around the streets after seeing Chicago, it might be worth investing an hour in a theatre jazz class at the Sydney Dance Company. This dance school has regular drop-in classes, which is perfect if you get an undeniable urge to cell block tango all of a sudden. And don't fret about your skills — classes range from experienced and beginners, so you don't have to be Bob Fosse to join in. [caption id="attachment_634987" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Giant Dwarf Theatre.[/caption] GO 'OFF-BROADWAY' AND EXPERIENCE SYDNEY'S SMALL THEATRE SCENE Sydney is obviously known for its gorgeous theatres and established production companies, but it also has an impressive small theatre scene. If you have spare time in between shows, it's worth checking out what's on offer at Giant Dwarf in Redfern — a Sydney favourite for comedy. Meanwhile, Griffin Theatre and Eternity Playhouse, both in Darlinghurst, offer impressive local productions in intimate settings. If you're after something a touch more indie and underground, head to the New Theatre in Newtown, which has been home to the non-conformists who act purely for the love of it since the 1930s. Make your mini musical-themed break easy with a stay at West Hotel and discover more of the city's showbiz-style happenings. Top Image: The Glenmore.
If your usual night-out routine has been suffering from same-same syndrome of late, left-of-field events company Curious Cartel has just the thing to help you lift your game. The experts of immersive theatre and masters of intrigue — the same ones that brought us Prom Night and Popcorn Therapy — will again lead punters blindly into an unknown world of wonders, this time with their interactive cocktail pop-up and game room, The Lock In. Guests are in for a truly immersive experience here, mixing booze, nostalgia, sci-fi and theatre, as they're led back in time (and over some oceans) to 1980s small-town Indiana, USA. In classic Curious Cartel form, the event is pretty much shrouded in mystery until the moment you walk through the door, entering the pop-up's temporary world above Surry Hills bar The Wanderer. All we know is you'll have 90 minutes to investigate an eerie mystery surrounding a fictional, top-secret government facility, while enjoying cocktails, games, food and a soundtrack of banging 80s jams. UPDATE: MARCH 18, 2019 — Due to overwhelming success, The Lock In has been extended until further notice. To purchase tickets, head this way.
Vancouver takes care of their own, even those without four walls to call home. A particularly high-five-worthy charity in Vancouver built pop-up shelters on benches, inviting homeless citizens to find shelter for the night. London is shuffling awkwardly across the Atlantic. Teaming up with Spring Advertising for a heartfelt and genuinely useful campaign, nonprofit RainCity Housing installed modified public benches to open eyes and raise awareness of local homelessness while actually providing homeless people a slightly improved temporary sleeping shelter. After London and Montreal's atrocious 'anti-homeless spikes' sparked furious debate and removals, Vancouver was successfully reminding the globe that it doesn't take much to offer a helping hand. RainCity, a nonprofit providing assistance to Vancouver's homeless population, designed two types of modified benches targeting citizens without shelter. The first boasted a convertible backrest which functions as an overhanging cover (with the address of RainCity Housing listed to encourage homeless people to "find a home here"). The second was more of an advertising campaign, but heartfelt nonetheless — during the day, the bench sports text reading "THIS IS A BENCH" and after sunset the text glows in the dark and changes to read "THIS IS A BEDROOM." Although this isn't a new ad campaign (in fact, the benches were installed last year), it didn't get much press amidst the London/Montreal spikes uproar. But seriously, somewhat useful covered benches win over 'anti-homeless' design any day. Via Gawker and Bustle. Images by Spring Advertising/RainCity.
With staycations still firmly on the docket in Australia, there's never been a better time to explore our own backyard. New South Wales is filled with adventure, whether you've lived in the state for a few years or a few decades. From a luxury weekend cruise with P&O Cruises to self-guided winery tours on an e-bike, here are five ways to explore NSW on the cheap. These local excursions won't blow your entire bank account either — so you can keep saving up for that overseas holiday that will hopefully be on the cards soon. [caption id="attachment_804203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] TAKE AN E-BIKE TOUR OF THE MUDGEE WINE REGION Instead of taking your umpteenth trip to the exxy Hunter Valley, head to another of New South Wales' incredible wine regions. Our pick is Mudgee. Set about three hours' drive from Sydney, this charming town is dotted with heritage-listed storefronts and surrounded by a range of top-notch wineries — many of which are accessible by bicycle. Make it a cruisy ride with the recently launched Ezyride electric bikes, with prices ranging from $65 for a half-day, up to $225 for a three-day hire. On the wine front, keep an eye out for Portuguese-style drops from Mansfield Wines, organic wines from Thistle Hill and Italian varietals from Di Lusso Estate, plus the award-winning Robert Stein Winery and Lowe Family Wine Co. When you need a break from wine-hopping, get on your bike and head to some of the region's many wetlands, waterfalls and rolling hills. [caption id="attachment_804206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sea Cliff Bridge, Clifton, Destination NSW[/caption] TAKE A ROAD TRIP AROUND THE STATE IN A CAMPERVAN While flights around Australia can continue to pose a risk to travellers, there's plenty of adventure to be had on the open road. For your next road trip, combine your transport and accommodation in one by hiring a campervan. Campervan hire in Sydney won't blow the budget out, and gives you the ultimate flexibility around how you plan your adventure. Operators like Spaceships and Jucy both come equipped with everything you'll need for a short or long road trip. If you're looking to head down south, take the scenic route to the Victorian border via Kosciuszko National Park. Along the way, stop into Cooma for a truffle-inspired brunch and truffle hunt at Macenmist Black Truffles and Wines, explore the historic town of Jindabyne with a leisurely bike ride along the Lake Jindabyne Foreshore Trail, and head around the mountain to discover one of the region's many stunning hiking trails. Take the coastal route back to Sydney and enjoy the crystal clear waters of Pambula, Mollymook and Jervis Bay. Don't forget to stop into Tathra for some of Australia's very best oysters, before heading back into town via Clifton's stunning Sea Cliff Bridge. Headed north? It's hard to go past dolphin and whale watching at Emerald Beach, majestic sunsets at Caves Beach and incredible waterfall walks at Dorrigo National Park, not to mention Cabarita Beach, which was named Australia's best beach in 2020. For more suggestions, check out our Road Tripper Guides. GO ON A COMEDY CRUISE With international travel a no-go, you might think cruises are off the table — and you may not have the time or money to spend on a weeks-long vacation. Luckily for Sydneysiders, P&O offers short-break cruises, so you can spend a long weekend on the open seas without blowing your budget. For those with a funny bone, opt for P&O's three-night Comedy Cruise (starting at $398.50 per person), which brings together some of Australia's top comedians for gigs and workshops in the onboard comedy club. You'll even get to try your hand at your own stand-up routine, with performances judged by the celebrity comedians. If you're in the mood for a more relaxing stay, you can while away the hours poolside from the comfort of a shaded cabana, or indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment. You can also enjoy one of the many restaurants, bars and nightclubs onboard before retiring to your luxury accommodation, with some rooms boasting private balconies. [caption id="attachment_789748" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Donkey Mountain Wolgan Valley, Blue Mountains, Destination NSW[/caption] MAKE A LIST OF NSW'S TOP TREKS AND TICK THEM OFF ONE BY ONE With its diverse range of mountainous terrain, stunning beaches and breathtaking coastline, New South Wales has something to offer every trekker. Apart from feeding your adventurous spirit, hiking also has the added benefit of being a free-of-charge activity in most instances (park fees aside). We suggest making a list of your bucket list hikes in the state and ticking them off one by one. Not sure where to start? Lucky for you, we've done the research for you. Looking to conquer a mountain or two? Check out our picks for epic mountain hikes. Into the ocean? Our list of NSW's best coastal and seaside walks will get you started. And hardcore trekkers will love our overnight and multi-day hikes. [caption id="attachment_804191" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emerald Beach, Destination NSW[/caption] BOOK A BEACH ESCAPE — THAT'S NOT BYRON OR BATEMANS There's more than one way to soak up the sun, sand and sea in our state. Sure, Byron and Batemans Bay are popular for a reason. But if you want to avoid the crowds (not to mention the jacked up tourist prices), look outside these spots to some of New South Wales' other gorgeous seaside locations. A few of our favourite coastal towns to rent a beach house in include Berry, Ulladulla, Tathra and Pambula down south, or South West Rocks, Crescent Head and Emerald Beach up north. All of these will offer an equally stunning beach getaway, without breaking the bank. You can even combine a few beach hut stays with your aforementioned campervan trip, giving you a few rest stops along the way. For more information about P&O Cruises, head to the company's website. Top image: Sea Cliff Bridge, Destination NSW
Blurring the lines between life and art, Ross Watson is getting a well-deserved party. An Anniversary celebrates his 15-year legacy with a gallery exhibition of some of his best hyperreal works. Running as a part of the Mardi Gras 2015 festival program, Watson's provocative creations will be showing at Waterloo's Depot Gallery for two weeks only. The Melburnian tackles issues of sexuality and self-expression in his signature playful style (without fear of ruffling a few feathers along the way). An international art-world favourite, Watson's dynamic, out-of-the-box efforts are what sets him apart, earning him the praise of Elton John and Stephen Fry, among others.
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and at Sydney Festival 2019, there'll be a whole heap of ways to celebrate the occasion. As we commemorate the gents who first traipsed across the lunar surface, it's not a bad opportunity to think back on a few of the earlier Apollo missions. Remember Apollo 3, the unmanned mission to test whether or not NASA could successfully restart the ship's engines? Or Apollo 7, the first live TV broadcast from space? No, we don't either. The truth is, during the space race, a whole bunch of people did a whole bunch of crazy things to pave the way for the Armstrong/Aldrin moonwalk. To recognise these lesser-known space odysseys, SydFest has commissioned 11 cosmos-themed works for Barangaroo. With a combination of sculpture, interactive installations and roaming performers, this is a great chance to delve into some of the leaps that made Neil's 'small step' possible 50 years ago. Apollo 11 is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.
There are times when we live paycheque to paycheque. Then there are times when it's appropriate to live a little large. Right now we're feeling the need to indulge. Whether that's catching an award-winning opera with epic Sydney Harbour views, spending three hours at a top-end-of-town spa, or dining at one of Sydney's famous restaurants. In partnership with Destination NSW, we've picked out seven outrageously fancy things to do in Sydney, so when you're in need of a treat you know exactly where to start. [caption id="attachment_805157" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] SEE LA TRAVIATA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR One of our city's most extravagant annual events is back for 2021 with extra gusto. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will once again host an award-winning opera on its openair theatre. This time it's Verdi's famous opera La Traviata — a story that inspired Moulin Rouge. You can expect decadence in the form of a nine-metre-high chandelier hanging above the stage (complete with 10,000 crystals) and fireworks at every performance. Not to mention those unbeatable harbour views. To truly experience the luxury event, book a pre-show dinner and interval drinks at the HSBC Platinum Club. Tickets for La Traviata start from $99. The show runs until April 25. INDULGE IN A SPA EXPERIENCE AT SHANGRI-LA Next time you're in need of pampering, don't settle for your high street massage place. Instead, step it up a notch with a spa day at Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney. The luxury hotel's in-house Chi, The Spa has heaps of packages to choose from. The most luxurious is the Journey Down Under ($535–605 per person). This 3.25-hour experience features a 75-minute wattleseed scrub and pink clay wrap combo followed by a 60-minute aroma massage, then a one-hour deep cleansing facial. The spa uses ethically sourced natural ingredients, too. Fully booked? Here are more indulgent spa experiences in Sydney. SPEND A NIGHT IN THE BEST HOTEL ROOM IN THE CITY One of the most expensive suites in the city can be found at five-star hotel The Langham, Sydney. The most expensive and luxurious room in the house is The Observatory Suite (from $2,448 per night). Boasting views over Observatory Hill, the 122-square-metre space features a double drawing room with a fireplace, a grand eight-person dining room and an extra comfy master bedroom. Plus, it has a gorgeous marble bathroom with a separate tub for the most extra soak you'll ever have. After a long bath, throw on that plush bathrobe and slippers and enjoy the 24-hour room service. TAKE A SEAPLANE TO A REMOTE WATERSIDE RESTAURANT Sure, you could easily drive to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, but where's the fun in that? Instead, live like a celeb and hop on a seaplane to take you there — with food awaiting your arrival. Sydney Seaplanes will fly you to this award-winning waterside cottage, set on Cowan Creek. The decadent three-course lunch ($580 each) is created by head chef Kevin Solomon (formerly at Guillaume). If you can't bear to leave your tranquil surrounds, you can stay overnight at Cottage Point Inn for $775 per person, including your meal and flight. In the morning, you'll be treated to a continental breakfast before flying back to Rose Bay. [caption id="attachment_677793" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] EAT AT ONE OF SYDNEY'S FAMOUS FINE DINERS Peter Gilmore's Quay is a dining experience worthy of its extravagance. You can choose from a six- or eight-course feast ($240–290) and, no matter your decision, you'll experience the finest ingredients presented beautifully. Raw scallops are paired with liquorice kombu and oyster cream; smoked eel with caviar and sea cucumber crackling; bone marrow noodles with mud crab and miso butter; and Maremma duck with black garlic and preserved blueberries. Complete your evening with the sommelier wine pairing for $190–230. CHARTER A PRIVATE YACHT FOR 20 OF YOUR NEAREST AND DEAREST Want to feel like a billionaire? If the answer is 'so freakin' bad', pretend you're Bruno Mars right here in Sydney. Plenty of local companies hire out yachts by the hour. Sydney Harbour Escapes, which operates the popular party boat Starship Sydney, has four-person boats all the way up to mega yachts for 950 guests. If you're going all out, treat 20 of your nearest and dearest to a yacht day, from $325 per hour. Living large? Opt for a skippered overnight stay with Taylor Made Escapes in Palm Beach from $499. [caption id="attachment_795541" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Balloon Aloft, Destination NSW[/caption] WATCH THE SUNRISE FROM A HOT AIR BALLOON There's more than one way to take to the skies. For the most leisurely flight option, hop aboard a hot air balloon. There are heaps of these nostalgic experiences out there, but we rate Balloon Aloft's flights in Camden and Hunter Valley. Each one-hour flight will cost you $279 per person. Whichever location you choose, you'll set out at sunrise and pass over rolling countryside and lush valleys. After your flight, you'll enjoy a gourmet brekkie complete with sparkling wine, either at Peterson House Winery in the Hunter or Camden Valley Inn in the Macarthur region. Going on a luxe getaway? Balloon Aloft also runs experiences in Mudgee and Byron Bay. 'La Traviata' runs until April 25, 2021. Tickets start from $99. Top image: Sydney Seaplanes
Knock knock, Matrix fans: the door to the sci-fi franchise, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2024, is reopening. Mere days after notching up half a century since the first film in the saga hit cinemas in the US — which happened on March 31 — Warner Bros has announced that it's making a fifth live-action movie in the Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 4)-led saga. The news also comes three years after The Matrix last returned to the big screen courtesy of 2021's The Matrix Resurrections. But whether Reeves will be back, or Carrie-Anne Moss (Accidental Texan) as well, hasn't been revealed so far. While the world wonders whether a live-action Matrix movie without Keanu and Moss is really a Matrix movie, one thing is certain: this new Matrix flick won't feature either Lana or Lilly Wachowski (Sense8) behind the lens. Together, they helmed 1999's first film, then 2003's The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Lana did the honours solo on The Matrix Resurrections. On the upcoming feature, Lana will now be an executive producer instead. In the director's chair this time: Drew Goddard, who helmed The Cabin in the Woods and Bad Times at the El Royale, and earned an Oscar nomination for writing The Martian's screenplay. He'll also be scripting and producing, but the tale he'll be telling also hasn't been announced. "Drew came to Warner Bros with a new idea that we all believe would be an incredible way to continue the Matrix world, by both honouring what Lana and Lilly began over 25 years ago, and offering a unique perspective based on his own love of the series and characters," said Warner Bros Motion Pictures President of Production Jesse Ehrman in a statement announcing the new film, as per Variety. "The entire team at Warner Bros Discovery is thrilled for Drew to be making this new Matrix film, adding his vision to the cinematic canon the Wachowskis' spent a quarter of a century building here at the studio." "It is not hyperbole to say The Matrix films changed both cinema and my life," added Goddard. "Lana and Lilly's exquisite artistry inspires me on a daily basis, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to tell stories in their world." So far, the saga that rightly claims that Keanu is the one began with with one of the best sci-fi films ever made, delivered two underwhelming sequels mere years later, also includes excellent animated anthology The Animatrix and then enjoyed its first decades-later comeback with The Matrix Resurrections. When its next instalment will land, and what it'll be called, haven't been revealed as yet, either. There's also no word as to whether any other Matrix cast members will return, with Resurrections also featuring franchise regular Jada Pinkett Smith (The Equalizer) — plus series newcomers Jonathan Groff (Knock at the Cabin), Neil Patrick Harris (Doctor Who), Jessica Henwick (The Royal Hotel), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Citadel), Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom). There's obviously no trailer for the next Matrix movie right now, but check out the trailer for The Matrix Resurrections below: The new Matrix movie doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our review of The Matrix Resurrections. Via Variety.
Making a winter date with Dark Mofo always feels like crawling into another world — and, based on the Tasmanian festival's programs over the years, that's the active aim. The Apple Isle's moody and brooding music and arts event takes its cues from its host and organisers, the Museum of Old and New Art, of course, which results in a lineup filled with the surreal, strange, sublime and surprising. In a 2022 bill that includes everything from rainbows to the Chernobyl score played live in an immersive industrial setting, that trend is naturally set to continue. After announcing the first highlights for this year's fest back in March — and revealing that it'll run over two weeks as well — Dark Mofo has dropped its full 2022 program. If a trip south between Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 wasn't already on your agenda, it should be now. All up, Dark Mofo 2022 will feature more than 100 artists from 30 countries, and span everything from acclaimed local names hitting the stage to a life-sized doll house that attendees can wander through, all to celebrate the theme 'resurrection'. [caption id="attachment_849626" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lingua Ignota video still, courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] First, the tunes. The Kid LAROI, Japanese cult-favourites Boris and English indie muso Baxter Dury will be doing their thing on the fest's first weekend — with the latter intriguingly described as "comedown disco". Then, the following week, Chelsea Wolfe and Emma Ruth Rundle join the bill, as do the return of Hymns to the Dead, Swiss metal band Triptykon doing an Aussie exclusive show, Perfume Genius, and four-day experimental and electronic music microfestival Borderlands. Yes, there's truly something here for everyone. Two big music highlights spring from the realm of film and television: live performances of the scores to 2021's excellent new Candyman and 2019's haunting HBO miniseries Chernobyl. With the first, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe will be playing the sounds that helped make the movie so unnerving. At the second, Emmy-winner Hildur Guðnadóttir (also an Oscar-winner for her Joker score) will team up with Chris Watson and Sam Slater, and all proceeds from the show will be donated to Voices of Children to help Ukrainian children and families. All of the above joins the previously announced Kim Gordon, who'll bust out songs from her 2019 solo release No Home Record, plus Berlin-based composer and producer Nils Frahm playing Music For Hobart. And, Spiritualized, Deafheaven and American multi-instrumentalist Lingua Ignota are already on the lineup, too. [caption id="attachment_849627" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sabio / Dark Mofo. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] That's your ears well and truly taken care of — but Dark Mofo's visual lineup is just as impressive. Lovers of engaging art will want to check out Japanese Australian artist Hiromi Tango's Rainbow Dream: Moon Rainbow, which will feature a healing colour palette to put viewers in a joyous mood. Also a must-see is Hobart-based Sabio's Holy Mother of God: Emergency Doll House, which'll use projection mapping, sculpture and animation to turn a three-storey building into a carnival-style trip through the subconscious. Jónsi from Sigur Rós is on the bill as well, thanks to a multi-channel immersive experience inspired by the recent eruption of Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano. And, so is Anger, a performance dedicated to Kenneth Anger's life and work in occult cinema. And, as revealed last month, there'll be pieces by new video media artist Bill Viola and multi-channel video artist Doug Aitken — plus exhibitions focusing on Jeremy Shaw, Fiona Hall and AJ King, and Robert Andrew, which'll all launch at a music, fire and art-filled Mona Up Late shindig. [caption id="attachment_849628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Blue Rose Ball. Photo Credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2018. Image of Société Anonyme Costume Ball Hadley's Orient Hotel. Image courtesy: Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Throw in a heap of Dark Mofo's signature festivities — such as the return of The Blue Rose Ball and its costumed debauchery, the Nude Solstice Swim (because it wouldn't be Dark Mofo without it), the City of Hobart Winter Feast on the waterfront, Night Mass: Transcendence in the In The Hanging Garden precinct and the Reclamation Walk — and yes, this is a huge program. Also popping up again is Memorial, too, which sees people provide the ashes of their loved ones to be placed inside a handcrafted firework that then explodes for everyone to watch. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. For more information or to buy tickets — with subscriber tix on-sale at 10am on Monday, April 11 and general tix at 12pm on Monday, April 11 — head to the festival website. Top images: Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2021. // 3.2, 404.zero, Dark Downtown, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Remi Chauvin, 2021 // Courtesy: Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
A 500-hectare site at Shanes Park between Penrith and Windsor has been earmarked to become a new NSW National Park. The feral predator-free area will aim to reintroduce locally extinct species including quolls, bettongs and the brush-tailed phascogale to the area. The project was announced on Sunday, September 26 by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian with two primary goals — to create more natural public space for western Sydney residents and to assist in animal conservation efforts. The wildlife restoration project will see the reintroduction of 30 species of animals into the Shanes Park area, which is slated to open to the public in early 2023. "This is wildlife restoration on a grand scale and one of the biggest urban wildlife restoration projects in Australia's history," NSW Minister for the Environment Matt Kean said. "Visiting Shanes Park will be like stepping back in time to see the Australian bush alive with native animals as it was before foxes, cats and rabbits had such a devastating impact." The NSW Government hopes the outdoor space and abundance of native species in the park will be a drawcard for both locals and tourists, with Berejiklian calling it "one of the nation's best wildlife experiences". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matt Kean MP (@mattkeanmp) Shane Park will join six other NSW National Parks which are established or will be established as feral-free areas. This project will take the total feral-free area across the state to almost 65,000 hectares. The government is currently consulting with local Aboriginal groups in order to ensure the new National Park is given an Aboriginal name. The park will include visitor facilities and an education centre which will run nocturnal spotlighting tours. A new National Park is set to be open to the public at Shanes Park in early 2023. Keep up to date with the latest via the NSW Government website. Top image: Quoll by Andrew Arch
Thanks to airport reads and movies based on them, everyone has heard of The Da Vinci Code. Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus is the true stunner, though. The 12-volume set is filled with the artist and inventor's drawings and writings, detailing his thoughts and featuring his sketches on a wide array of topics. It dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It's priceless. Original pages from it are also on their way to Australia. From Saturday, March 16, Australia's first permanent digital-only art gallery The Lume will exhibit Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius, the Melbourne venue's major 2024 exhibition. In its immersive fashion — because creating walkthrough art experiences is its approach — the site is paying tribute to the Italian Renaissance master. Most of the showcase will involve towering versions of artworks such as the Mona Lisa on the walls, plus pieces from his contemporaries as well; however, Codex Atlanticus will be a big feature, too. This is the first time that sheets from Codex Atlanticus will be on display in Australia. Since 1637, it has called Milan's Biblioteca Ambrosiana home. It's thanks to a relationship between the latter and Grande Experiences, which is behind The Lume and also Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci, that some of its pages can head this way. The Codex Atlanticus features entries from da Vinci from between 1478–1519, dating up to the year of his death. In his handwriting — in Italian, of course — and as sketched by his fingers, everything from flying machines and architecture to engineering and hydraulic systems are covered. [caption id="attachment_943630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Biblioteca Ambrosiana[/caption] "These pages from the Codex Atlanticus represent not just a collection of sketches and writings but a gateway into the brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci's mind," said The Lume founder Bruce Peterson. "Their arrival in Australia is profound, allowing visitors to explore Leonardo in a once-in-a-generation opportunity." Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius is clearly more than the world's most-famous enigmatic smile beaming down, then. The gallery is calling it its "most ambitious, immersive and breathtaking yet", which is quite the claim for a collection that follows a van Gogh celebration, a focus on Monet and his peers and the First Nations-centric Connection. The Last Supper will also enjoy the spotlight in a big way, while the Mona Lisa will link in with the segment of the exhibition that's all about French optical engineer Pascal Cotte, who invented a multispectral camera and has peeled back the artwork's layers using his research. Accordingly, get excited about Mona Lisa Revealed, which will include an exact 360-degree replica — the only one in the world — as created thanks to Cotte's 240,000,000-pixel multispectral camera. Also among Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius' highlights: 50 of da Vinci's "machine inventions", which will be on loan from the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome. This part of the exhibition will hero recreations made in Italy from the artist and inventor's sketches, and also using the materials and techniques he would've at the time. The exhibition will step through da Vinci's life, as well, including journeying through Florence's streets, Venice's canals and Milan — as brought to attendees via sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. That said, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius isn't solely about its namesake's well-known works, with the 3000-square-metre multi-sensory gallery also exploring his inspirations and those creating their own masterpieces at the same time. Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and works by Caravaggio will feature, for instance. In Queensland, at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Grande Experiences's Italian Renaissance Alive will also take a broader look at the period — but anyone wanting a glimpse of Codex Atlanticus will need to head to Melbourne. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius opens at The Lume, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, from Saturday, March 16, 2024 — head to the venue's website for tickets and further information.
When the Aunty team confirmed that Golden Plains would return in 2023 and locked in dates, it was huge news, with pilgrimages to the Supernatural Amphitheatre finally back on the calendar. Indeed, that was probably all the push you needed to enter the fest's ticket ballot, and start crossing your fingers that you score passes to the beloved sibling to Meredith Music Festival, no matter who ended up on the bill. That online ballot has been extended, now running until 10.15pm AEDT on Monday, October 24. Also, the Golden Plains lineup is now here, too. Bikini Kill, Carly Rae Jepsen, Soul II Soul and Four Tet lead the charge, in what's shaping up to be a huge comeback fest from Saturday, March 11–Monday, March 13, 2023. [caption id="attachment_874299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Debi Del Grande[/caption] Bikini Kill are playing Mona Foma as well, in what'll be the iconic Kathleen Hanna-fronted, Washington-formed, Riot Grrrl movement-instigating group's first Australian show in more than 25 years. Calling all rebel girls, obviously. If you aren't making the trip to Tasmania in February, you can now see them at Golden Plains in March. Carly Rae Jepsen's inclusion on the bill likely now has 'Call Me Maybe' stuck in your head, but that isn't all that's on the Canadian popstar's discography. And Soul II Soul's spot on the lineup is massive, given the British musical collective have been doing their thing since the late 80s, and also helped change UK club culture. Alongside Four Tet, they're joined by Mdou Moctar, Angel Olsen, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Brian Jackson and more, in what's clearly a gloriously eclectic lineup. Catering to 12,000 punters each year across three days and two nights, Golden Plains has long proven a favourite for its one-stage setup, which skips the need for frantic timetabling. Meredith is also returning, as announced in August, with Caribou, Yothu Yindi and Courtney Barnett leading the lineup from Friday, December 9–Sunday, December 11, 2022. GOLDEN PLAINS 2023 LINEUP: Bikini Kill Four Tet Carly Rae Jepsen Mdou Moctar Soul II Soul Angel Olsen Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Brian Jackson Overmono (live) Earthless Rochelle Jordan Methyl Ethel Kokoroko Andrew Gurruwiwi Band Stiff Richards Armand Hammer Soichi Terada Jennifer Loveless Rick Wilhite Freya Josephine Hollick E Fishpool Mulalo Delivery Golden Plains will return to the Meredith Supernatural Ampitheatre from Saturday, March 11–Monday, March 13, 2023. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot before 10.15pm AEDT on Monday, October 24. Top image: Theresa Harrison.
